Bright Sword: Construction starts from southeastern Shanxi

As a result, the previous strategy was no longer suitable for the 389th Brigade, and everyone began to have speculations.

Zeng Jiwen continued, "I'm sure everyone has guessed this. Yes, our 389th Brigade must change its strategy. We must shift from operating behind enemy lines and disrupting enemy transportation."

"Our military factory has been completed and put into production. With the subsequent expansion, we need a major battle to gain a firm foothold in southeastern Shanxi and protect our achievements."

"Comrades, the enemy will not see us develop. We must turn from the enemy's rear to the front and begin to actively attack the enemy."

"This undoubtedly raises the bar for the comrades present. We must, through fierce battle after fierce battle, train an elite field force that dares to fight and is invincible!"

Zeng Jiwen said this in a serious tone. Everyone listened, and their expressions became serious. They had gradually begun to understand that the 389th Brigade was entering a period of rapid development.

"Therefore, I applied to the headquarters to modify the goal of this combat plan, which is to encircle and annihilate the 108th Division that invaded Changzhi!" Zeng Jiwen looked at everyone with a serious expression.

After everyone heard the brigade commander's words, the whole yard suddenly fell into an eerie silence, followed by bursts of exclamations.

Zeng Jiwen looked at the many exclamations and discussions without interrupting them too much. He waited until everyone calmed down before speaking.

"I know everyone is surprised now, this is our goal in this battle: to encircle and annihilate the 108th Division!"

"Let's use the 108th Division as the first battle for our 389th Brigade to transform into an elite field force."

After Zeng Jiwen finished speaking, the group leaders below all showed excitement.

To encircle and annihilate an entire division would be like a devastating blow in the current situation where the Chinese army is losing ground.

Then, Political Commissar Zhou Shi stood up and added, "In this operation, our 389th Brigade has nearly 30,000 troops participating. In addition, there are nearly 20,000 troops from the 47th Army stationed in Changzhi, bringing the total force to over 50,000."

"Furthermore, we have a geographical advantage this time, and we have no shortage of weapons, equipment, and ammunition, so we can definitely destroy the 108th Division."

Upon hearing this, the exclamations of surprise from those present were even louder. No one had expected that the brigade commander would have such a big appetite this time. Last time he had only targeted a regiment, but this time he simply saved the brigade and went straight for the Japanese division.

However, everyone also began to look forward to it. At present, each regiment has no shortage of equipment. They have ambushed small groups of Japanese troops before. After this battle, the combat effectiveness of the entire brigade has been completely improved.

This is also a test for the entire 389th Brigade. Once it passes the test, the entire brigade will soar to new heights.

Afterwards, Wang Zhuo stood up and began to convey the brigade's combat orders to everyone.

"According to the previously planned plan, this operation will involve the deployment of twelve main force regiments and three artillery regiments, along with four accompanying local regiments, for a total of 19 regiments.

The entire battle on the northern front was divided into two battlefields: the Dongyang Pass area and the Yetao area.

Dongyang Pass was garrisoned by the 624th Regiment led by Li Keyuan, commander of the 312th Brigade of the 104th Division of the 47th Army, to prevent the vanguard of the Japanese army from escaping into Dongyang Pass. The 80th and 81st Regiments set up an ambush on the mountains between Dongyang Pass and Shexian County to ambush the vanguard of the 108th Division. At the same time, the 108th Artillery Regiment accompanied them, building artillery positions and providing artillery support.

The 86th Regiment cut off the Japanese army's retreat route from the rear, and the 87th Regiment occupied Shexian County. Their only goal in the early stage was to force them to urgently call for reinforcements.

In the Yetao area, after the Japanese vanguard was ambushed, the 108th Division would definitely bring a large force to reinforce. The local regiment 123rd Regiment located in Wuan harassed the 108th Division at every step, forcing the 108th Division to carry a wounded soldier with it every step forward.

The 88th and 89th Regiments were lurking in Baozi Valley northeast of Yetao, while the 82nd and 84th Regiments were blocking the 108th Division head-on at Balaling and Dajing Village, while the 182nd Regiment provided artillery support.

When the 108th Division split up and marched around Dayupei to Yuanzigou, the 781st Regiment set up an ambush on the mountaintops on both sides of Yuanzigou to encircle and annihilate this Japanese force. The 181st Regiment provided artillery support, and the 783rd Regiment immediately moved to the wandering position, blocking the 108th Division's retreat route and completing the encirclement.